Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw a message a few weeks back about a man who had feeder snakes for sale (corn snakes). He said that the snakes where non-feeders. Will king snakes do just as well on a snake diet as mice? Do they get "more exercise" by consuming a snake (not easy to subdue)? Opinions please!

Dave
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One man with faith equals the majority.
Thomas Jefferson

Kingsnakes are sometimes said to grow faster when on a snake diet.

I've fed full term died in egg corn snakes to Florida kings and they seem to like them a lot more than thawed pinkies. I consider feeder snakes a tool in getting hatchling kingsnakes to switch over to pinkies rather than a staple food item. I usually cut a small piece off (of a frozen-thawed snake) and stick it to the pinkie. Usually the snake will eat both.

Yes sir, I agree and do the same things here. I never had much luck scenting with lizards but other snakes, including other Kingsnakes works very well
Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

I've had luck with anoles and skinks. Florida kings really like ground skinks. The best way to sent with anoles is to split their heads open and rub the blood and brains on the pinkie. Works surprisingly well.

That was a nice exchange to read while eating lunch!
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Darwin Rocks!

I have found that scenting with other snakes works best for getula (common) kingsnakes, but scenting with lizards works better on mexicana kingsnakes.
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

I got a few nice ones recently at a nice price from a reputable breeder that were pre-pinky feeders. I thought I was up to the challenge but so far I'm Spiraling in my efforts to get them to eat. I have other live kings I could scent them with (tried old cornsnake sheds-neg)

Hmmmmm that is if I can keep the scenting king from eating the pink himself.............lol

lizard works for mexicannas.......alternas.......

anole ,skink,and sceloporous .....

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>>I got a few nice ones recently at a nice price from a reputable breeder that were pre-pinky feeders. I thought I was up to the challenge but so far I'm Spiraling in my efforts to get them to eat. I have other live kings I could scent them with (tried old cornsnake sheds-neg)

I would use anoles or spiny lizards to scent pinks for alterna.
I used to deep freeze lizards then put them in a a deli cup. Along with the frozen lizard I would add a live pinky. Keep the pinky in there until the lizard thaws.
Then I would pick up the pink with clean tweezers as not to add your scent to the pinky. Put the pink under a non-translucent bowl along with the alterna. Cover them both and check back in about 30 minutes.....

There were many other tricks I used that kept my mexicana and alterna from deteriorating......

Email me if you would like to hear some of my ideas.....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Hadn't read all the posts before I asked the question. Thanks for the help.

The two things that I'd keep in mind are that feeder snakes are way more expensive than rodents and the availability of non-feeder corn snakes is far more limited than rodents. A kingsnake could get "hooked" on snakes and refuse to eat rodents - then you'll always be in need of a limited, relatively expensive food item.

Common kings that refuse rodents will almost always eat other snakes (in my experience) so there are uses for non-feeder corns, but I wouldn't use them in place of rodents if the snake is already on a rodent diet.

Tim

Third Eye

np

>>...He said that the snakes where non-feeders

I'd be real cautious. There may be a reason a snake's a non-feeder: Under other circumstances we might be careful not to let one of our valued snakes be in proximity to such an animal, much less eat it. With recent hatchlings, that risk is minimized. But for anything older than that, I think it's a factor that should be considered.